Bubble teams Kentucky, Alabama, Tennessee and Ole Miss all have work to do if they plan to hear their name called on Selection Sunday. Meanwhile, other bubble teams' fate could be in the outcomes of three Friday games.

USA TODAY Sports dissects each borderline SEC teams' résumé and explains how their next matchup could be the difference between the Big Dance or the NIT.

The Wildcats have proven they can win without injured freshman Nerlens Noel—beating Florida and Missouri at home without the nation's top shot blocker. But Kentucky can't rely on signature wins to earn an at-large berth into the NCAA tournament because 12 of its wins have come against teams ranked below the top 150. An opening-round exit at the conference tournament would leave John Calipari's young team staring at an unpleasant wait for Selection Sunday.

A loss to Mississippi State is as big of a resume stain that a bubble team could manage. Yet the Marshall Henderson-led Rebels still have a shot at making the NCAAs if they can string together deep SEC tournament run. Ole Miss' non-conference schedule (No. 275) is also glaring for a team that also lost to South Carolina. Another bad sign is that if Ole Miss lost to another borderline team, Middle Tennessee, in a non-conference clash. If those are the two bubble teams the committee is dissecting, it won't take a magnifying glass to figure Ole Miss is NIT-bound.

Alabama (20-11, RPI of 62)

Pivotal Friday matchup: vs. Tennessee in the quarterfinals.

The Crimson Tide have the exact opposite problem that Kentucky has, boasting a strong top-100 record (7-7) and no signature wins to make the selection committee swoon. Moreover, Alabama has beaten Kentucky, but that's not enough of a noteworthy victory, particularly with a glaring loss to a 9-23 Auburn team on its resume. Trevor Releford might salvaged the Tide's at-large hopes with a 50-foot game-winner at the buzzer in a 61-58 win over Georgia to close the regular season, helping 'Bama avoid a third consecutive loss.

Tennessee (19-11, RPI of 55):

Pivotal Friday matchup: vs. Alabama in the quarterfinals.

Volunteers coach Cuonzo Martin thinks "the job is done" as far as his team's postseason fate is concerned. That might be true if the selection committee was judging Tennessee's resume based on the regular season. But like most bubble teams, one loss could turn the tide. That's especially the case when the Vols are facing a team with a similar record—setting up a quarterfinal matchup that could serve as the de facto knockout game. One plus Tennessee has on its side is momentum, having won eight of its last nine to close the regular season. Two losses to Georgia are enough to sink any borderline team, though.

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